Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“But I thought the Drake’s feelings always reflected his person’s feelings?” Megan objected.
“Not in this case, I don’t think,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not how it seems to me, anyway.”
“Maybe you should just talk to him about it—try to get to the bottom of things,” Megan suggested.
I ran a hand through my hair.
“I don’t think it will do any good. He doesn’t seem to want to talk to me, or touch me, or be seen with me except when some other Drake that his Drake considers a threat comes up. That’s the only time he comes around me—to warn them off like a dog growling at other dogs to keep them off his favorite bone.”
Griffin raised his dark eyebrows at me.
“May I say, Avery, that you are full of colorful metaphors tonight.”
“Thanks,” I said glumly. “I’m glad something is colorful about my dull, gray life.”
“Wow—you are really getting in deep, here.” Megan gave me a concerned look. “Why don’t you go to bed early? Maybe a good night’s rest will help things not seem so grim.” She frowned at the hickey on my neck. “I have a feeling you didn’t get as much sleep last night as you should have.”
“You sound like my mom,” I grumbled. “’Go get a good night’s sleep, honey, and everything will seem brighter in the morning.’”
“Well, it will,” Megan said. “Just try to get some rest.” Her face brightened. “Do you want me to whip up a sleep charm for you?”
“Er…no thanks,” I said, remembering how the disastrous Good Manners spell had gone. Megan had incredible power, but until she worked on her “little magic” a bit more, I didn’t want to be a guinea pig for her. She might put me to sleep for a hundred years and I’d wake up with a long white beard like Rip Van freaking Winkle or something.
Griffin seemed to have the same thought because he murmured, “Darling, perhaps it would be better just to let Avery go to bed and try to rest naturally.”
Megan frowned at him.
“I just want what’s best for him!”
“I know,” Griffin said dryly. “So do I.” He looked at me. “Good night, Avery. I hope your night is restful.”
“Thanks.” I got off the couch, still feeling like crap. Hopefully Saint was asleep already so I could avoid the cold silence he’d been giving me most of the day. That way I could go to sleep and try to forget what had—and hadn’t—happened between us.
I was pretty sure that was the best I could hope for.
23
AVERY
I stepped into the dark room, trying to be quiet so as not to wake my roommate. I could barely see him, lying on his side on his bed with his back to me, apparently already asleep.
Well that was good, I told myself. We clearly had nothing to say to each other anyway. I moved around as quietly as I could, taking off my school uniform and getting into my pajamas.
I was just trying to sneak into bed when I stumbled over something in the dark—probably a shoe—and fell. I would have hit the ground pretty hard—and let me tell you, those flagstone floors were no joke—but there was a sudden movement to one side of me and then Saint had me wrapped in his arms. He stood me gently on my feet but kept his arms around me.
“Oh!” I exclaimed, too startled to protest. “What—I mean, thank you for catching me.”
Though how he had moved so fast, I’d never know. It must be part of being supernaturally fast and strong and having a Drake inhabit him, I guessed. At any rate, it was time to disengage.
“Excuse me,” I said, struggling to get away and into my own bed. But Saint didn’t let me go.
“Please, mi Corazon,” he murmured in my ear. “Just let me hold you a little while longer.”
“Um…what?” I felt utterly confused.
“I said I need to hold you—to feel you near to me,” Saint told me. His warm breath against my ear sent a shiver down my spine. “I’ve been longing for you all day.”
“Well you certainly have a funny way of showing it!” I exclaimed. But somehow, I wasn’t disengaging from the hug. I wasn’t about to let this go, though. “If you’ve been ‘longing’ for me, then why did you treat me like some kind of leper all day? I mean, you wouldn’t come near me except if another Drake was encroaching on your territory,” I pointed out.
“I had to protect you,” he said and I could hear the confused frown in his voice.
“Yes, well, you could have at least come to sit with me afterwards,” I pointed out. “You came to all my classes but you wouldn’t sit anywhere near me—at mealtimes, either. Here I am, wearing your Mark everywhere I go and the guy who marked me is acting like he doesn’t want anything to do with me!”